Durkin’s new leadership team
Monday, Jan 25, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the House GOP Leader…
* Press release…
State Rep. David Allen Welter, R-Morris, has been appointed House Republican Conference Chairperson for the 102nd General Assembly. At age 29, Welter joins Rep. Avery Bourne R-Morrisonville, as the youngest members of the House leadership team. Welter has represented Illinois’ 75th District since July 2016 serving portions of Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle and Will Counties.
Rep. Welter issued the following statement upon his appointment:
“I am honored to have been selected to join the House Republican Leadership Team. I believe Leader Durkin has shown he is committed to not just the future of our party but also our state with his announcement today. I look forward to using my influence to advocate for a broad energy package which will make Illinois a leader in competitive and reliable energy for generations to come. If we choose to lead together, both Democrats and Republicans, there is no challenge we cannot face, no obstacle we cannot overcome if we are united for the common good. I have shown to be effective working across the aisle, and I will continue to do that when I believe it benefits our area and our state.”
Rep. Welter’s ’s appointment was announced on Monday by House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs: “As the former Grundy County Chairman at the age of 23, David has proven to be a longstanding advocate for the principles of the House Republican caucus and the values of his district. David recently was involved in the House investigations on the deadly outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home. His thorough questioning of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has pushed the investigation into the right direction. We look forward to David bringing that dedication and energy to the House Republican Leadership team.”
Prior to his appointment to the Illinois General Assembly in 2016, Welter served as Chairman of the Grundy County Board, to which he was first elected in 2010. His private sector experience includes work as the Human Resources Manager for Illinois Truck & Equipment. Welter is also currently a licensed real estate agent practicing in Morris.
Rep. Welter resides in Morris with his wife, Ashley, and their three children.
Keep an eye on that young man.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
It’s a good sign that youth is being served in leadership, it’s healthy for a caucus and it’s expansion and growth outside the governing too.
Still, the diversity of the caucus, as seen in leadership (no fault of their own, per se) the House caucus is very less diverse than Illinois as a state.
My congratulations.
- Third Reading - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 12:53 pm:
Oh, I’m pretty sure Batinick is compensating for something.
- SuburbanWoman - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 12:57 pm:
Why is Hammond out?
- dirksen - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:00 pm:
The bell tolled for Hammond. Not the best political decision for her to join McCombie’s quixotic campaign for leader.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:02 pm:
With 2 deputy leaders and 7 assistant leaders there should be no lack of leadership in the caucus going forward.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
When your caucus is a super minority, everyone can serve in a leadership position apparently.
- Pizza Man - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:09 pm:
For both caucuses, do we really need so many leaders, assistants, whips or deputies?
Both caucuses have partisan staffs to track/whip up necessary votes on the most important or heated bills I would think.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:13 pm:
“When your caucus is a super minority, everyone can serve in a leadership position apparently.”
11 out of 45 members serving as a leader…if you live in a district where your GOP representative isn’t on this list after serving more than six years…it might be time for a primary challenge.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:15 pm:
===…if you live in a district where your GOP representative isn’t on this list… ===
… they may have been part of a failed coup of Leader Durkin.
Coups rarely end well when coups fail. Ask the conspirators of failed coups.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
===Ask the conspirators of failed coups.===
Mark has one on staff.
- Denny's Grand Slam - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
Representative Welter is a rockstar in the making. He’s smart and fights hard for his constituents. Congratulations to all who made leadership.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
- TheInvisibleMan -
The reckoning after January 6th, or the thoughts of others during the dark four years, we will see many try to either excuse choices or ignore the choices of others that are insurrection.
All we can do now his hold on to the receipts come campaign season.
- Wizzard of Ozzie - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:26 pm:
Pizza Man- don’t forget about the accompanying salary bump.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:33 pm:
Then there’s the Eastern Bloc blokes, it appears they aren’t leadership material?
Think on this;
The Eastern Bloc, solidly “GOP” (whatever that means and to whom that means it to is on the table for discussion) seemingly shut out of leadership, a failed coup rules out a few others not Eastern Bloc, and some newbies, who aren’t in the mix for obvious reasons
I look at these members, weigh and measure other mitigating and dividing factors within the caucus, and Durkin has found his core group.
Demmer won’t get any texts today about my surliness seemingly aimed at him today, but I personally want to wish him a happy new year.
- Thinking - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 1:49 pm:
Interesting group. Brady is the “oldest” (in since 2001). Mazzochi is the “youngest” (2018). Most came in the 2015 time period (Bourne, Batnick, Wheeler, etc.). Curious to get the commenters’ views on the favorite/most surprising pick?
- Cool Papa Bell - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 2:28 pm:
Two women, all white, lots of always Trumpers.
Guess I’m glad they didn’t load up the Eastern Bloc.
Is that being diverse for the IL GOP?
- welp ok - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 2:29 pm:
Bennett is the most surprising pick.
- Smarty - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
This is like listening to the starting line up for the Washington Generals.
- Annoin' - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 2:49 pm:
No Hammond, No Kieth Summer, On EasternBlocHeads. Oh the ommissions. Lot of work for Zock. Hope they are able to settle the COD suit soon.
- Kayak - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
And now stand by for the presentation of the 2nd place trophies.
- Too cute by half - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 3:20 pm:
Mazzochi on leadership? Looks like the MAGA culture warriors aren’t being totally disowned by ILGOP.
- Nagidam - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 3:28 pm:
@Annoin’
===…No Kieth Summer…===
That’s funny
- Astonished - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
McCombie had the goofy non starter coup and Hammond stuck with her until it ended. Probably signifying that this is Hammond’s last term.
Pleased to see no abject Eastern Bloc wing nuts on the list.
- west wing - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
McCombie really must have hurt herself in the IL House with her attempted takeover that failed. I don’t see her name anywhere on this list - wow. That must be a huge disappointment to her. Word on the street is she’s running for Congress in the 17th anyway so the IL House stuff doesn’t really matter.
- McGuppin - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 4:31 pm:
I’m with Cool Papa…. 10/12 white dudes. They have got to do better. It matters.
- been awhile - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 6:28 pm:
David ran on term limits in his bid for State Rep, wonder where he stands on that now. He’s been a career politician since 1st elected as Grundy County chairman, something he despised in his earlier days.
- Oldtimer - Monday, Jan 25, 21 @ 6:54 pm:
Was picking a minority member for leadership even an option for Durkin? Can’t pick what you don’t have.
When candidate recruiting for 2022, Durkin would be wise to look at what congressional Republicans did in 2020. The vast majority of their pickups were won by either female or minority candidates.
The future is not more Jim Oberweis style candidates.